Staying undefeated

"This was a game for the ages, one that I will never forget in my lifetime," Zach Scott, Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) head football coach said at the end of the Kaycee game. "And neither will the kids."

The Buckaroos, back-to-back-to back state champions and one game behind the Miners in the Southeast division, came in 5-1 and left 5-2. The Miners stay undefeated and number one in their division.

"I couldn't be more proud of these guys," Scott said. "They never give up."

The first half of the game went back and forth, but usually with the Miners staying in the lead. The first quarter had HEM ahead of Kaycee 18-13.

The second quarter had both teams drive down early to the goal, but turn over the ball. With 7:53 left, the Miners scored against the Buckaroos, running back a fumble for a touchdown making the score 26-13.

Kaycee scored twice, although they did not get the extra points and the Miners scored one more time before the first half was over making it 34-25.

The third quarter stayed scoreless until the Buckaroos were down at their end of the field needing 30 yards for a first down and they opted to pass, leading to a touchdown. The crowd got quiet as the score went to 34-31. Again the Buckaroos did not get the extra point.

The score did not change going into the fourth quarter.

However with 8:51 to play, Kaycee took the lead 37-34. The momentum looked to be going to Kaycee as they scored again and now the point spread was nine with less than two minutes left in the game.

"We don't give up," Scott said. "Even when it looks like the worst is happening, the kids don't give up and it is amazing."

The Miners proved Scott's words true. Shane McGraw connected to Brendon Reeves for a touchdown with 1:51 left making the score 43-42.

An onside kick went the way for the Miners after a Buckaroo player fumbled the ball giving it back to the Miners.

1:25 was left and before 30 seconds were off the clock, the Miners scored. Getting the extra point, the score was 50-43 with 51 seconds left.

Kaycee got the ball down field, but the clock expired before they were in any position to score.

"It was amazing," Scott said. "I told them at halftime, 'you go win this game, I am going to lose it' and I did tear up at the end."

Scott said this was the stiffest competition the Miners had faced all year.

"It is a different game than what we have been in this year and we had to figure them out and we did," Scott said. "We had our leaders come through like expected. Basil (Phillips) and Tylor (Goodro) don't always get a lot of credit, but they do a lot of the dirty work and without them, we would not be the same team."

Scott said Guernsey is their next game and the focus is on beating the Vikings, but for the moment he wants to savor what the football team pulled off.

"I can't say enough about the heart of this team, they just don't quit," Scott concluded.

The next scheduled football game is at 3 p.m. on Oct. 19 at HEM.